Hanging bar or rack



Sept. 4, 1934.

H. L, WITTSTEIN HANGING BAR 0R RACK Filed Dec. 2, 1932 w m m m INVENTOR HERM u b .Mmm

ATTORNEY A Patented Sept. 4, 1934 HANGING BAR on RACK Herman L. Wittstein, New Haven, ComL, assignor to The Atlas-Ansonia Company, New Haven, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application December 22, 1932, Serial No. 648,344

Claims.

The present invention relates generally to racks for hanging various articles, as so-calledtowel bars, for instance, for convenient use in the. household and elsewhere and to devices whereby such 5 racks may be attached to or mounted in functioning position upon a suitable supporting surface.

As is well known, glass towel bars which are generally colored to meet the demands of decorative effects in bath rooms, lavatories, kitchens, and

in other places wherein their use may be desirable, usually comprise a rod of solid pigmen'tized glass a portion of which, adjacent each end, is offset, at an angle of 90, the length of these parallel offset portions determining the spacing'of the towel receiving part of the rod from the rodsupporting surface. One-piece metal brackets, embodying sockets for the reception of the extremities of these ofi-set portions are employed for aflixing the bars to the supporting surface.

Customarily, the bracket socket comprises interrupted surfaces within which theend of the cooperating offset portion is inserted, the degree of positiveness of the jointure being dependent upon the clamping effort exerted upon the glass rod by the inherent resiliency of the metal in contact therewith.

In the manufacture of these glass rods, the coloring matter is introduced into the molten glass compound, from which a straight rod is produced, the aforementioned offset end portions being subsequently formed. In order to obtain asubstantially uniform coloring in the rod extreme care must be exercised in the preparation of the glass compound and in combining the coloring material therewith, theprocessing necessary to produce the straight rod involving considerableexpense in labor and equipment operating costs. However, even under the best of conditions, the coloring produced may be spotty or of varied shading or density, so thatthe ultimate cost of the rods which conform to the inspection standard is greatly increased. A further source of difficulty resides in the formation of the attaching ends. This operation, requires a special heat treatment which usually produces a perceptible discoloration of the rod in the zones of curvature. In fact, in many instances, the discoloration is so pronounced that otherwise substantially perfect 59 rods must be discarded as unmarketable.

In the type of mountings utilized, while the frictional engagement of the socket wall sections with the inserted rod end is designed to afford the requisite positive connection between the metal and non-metallic surfaces, it has been found that it is virtually impossible to prevent the rod ends from becoming dislocated in their sockets or detached therefrom. Obviously, a rod loosely supported in its bracket cannot serve its intended purpose satisfactorily, especially with the constant possibility that it may, at any moment, become separated from its brackets and present the hazard that accompanies the breaking of glass.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is now nothing available to meet the demand for a so-called wall rack or bar of glass in various coloring effects which may be marketed as a complete unit, that is, including the attaching brackets or devices, at a reasonable price, and, therefore, it is the general object and purpose of this invention to not only satisfy this demand for a popularly priced unit, but to provide a method and means of producing the bar or rack itself which will materially improve its appearance and eliminate those disadvantages which are inherent to present processes of manufacture of such devices.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a method or process of producing a towel bar or similar device, conforming to the standard design, wherein I employ certain steps in the method of production which will make it possible to obtain a multiplicity of uniform coloring effects, the uniformity of the coloring being preserved throughout the rack or bar, thereby obviating the spotty or uneven appearance of the color of such bars as are now produced, and especially the discoloration which appears in the curved portions thereof, as a result of methods of manufacture now being followed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method and means of coloring a tube of glass, subsequently to certain shaping or bending operations :which are performed on said tube, to impart thereto a specific configuration, as, for instance, in the manufacture of a rack or bar, wherein an intermediatestraight portion terminates in relatively angularly disposed offset portions.

More specifically, it is the object of this invention to provide a method and means of producing a glass bar or rack on which towels and the like may be hung in the bath room, kitchen, or elsewhere for convenient use, which, in shape will conform to the accepted or standard design and will embody attaching devices whereby the rack or bar will be rigidly or positively retained in its mounted position without danger of dislodgment therefrom in use, the bar or rack being of clear glass, or in various color effects, including those which may be produced by the use of pigmentized glass in the manufacture of such articles as well as others that may only be obtained by the practicing or" my invention.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide a bracket or form of mounting which especially responds to the demand. for a means for interlocking the engaging portions of the towel rack or bar, or a similarly constituted article,

whereby such device may be readily and firmly, affixed to a suitable supporting surface for use,

the characteristics of my bracket or mounting being such that it may be easily and quickly applied to the rack or bar so that the complete assembly of the unit will become an infinitesimal cost in the production operation.

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my invention will doubtless become evident as the description proceeds, and I would have it clearly understood that I reserve unto myself "all rights to the full range of equivalents in structure and in the steps of my process, as

well as in the avenues of use of my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, where-in I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, with illustrations of the steps of my process as they may be :most satisfactorily followed,

, Figure :1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a towel bar of the conventional shape, produced in accordancevoith my invention, with the attaching brackets or mountings applied thereto and in the position which they asspme when the device is affixed to a-supportin-g surface.

Figure 2 is a vieW'pa-ntly in section on the line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective, illustrating the assembly relation of the bar-end and the co.- operating pieces of the bracket or mounting. Figures 4 5 and-6 are illustrative 'of the sequence of steps followed in the formation of the bar, according to my process or method, :and

Figure '7 :is e. lplanyiew partly in section of a :bar "asproduced by the last forming stage of my :process to which the appropriate c'oloring matter has been applied. 7

Referring :now to the drawing in detail, which like characters 0f reference will be employed to designate similar parts in the several views, indicates a tube =of clear glass of the requisite length and diameter, having a preferably uniform internal bore to provide a wall thickness that will render it-sufficiently resistant to the detrimental forces to which itmaybe-exposed in its-normal use. This (tube '7 may be .produced in the customary manner (as in Figure 4), and a subsequent operation each-end thereof is flared or flanged outwardly "as indicated at Y inFigure 5, following which, in another step :of m-ylprocess portions of-the tube adjacent-each end are ibentmr 'ofiset at an angle of '90 tothe intermediate straight 'or body iportion thereofQ-to function as legs, the length of these legs (Figure I ing matt'er, in conformity with the inven'tion' of my co-pending application, Serial No. 553,581, filed July 28, 1931, of which this is a continuation in part. (Patent No. 1,915,112, dated June 20, 1933). As in the practicing of my invention of my co-pending application, a suitable lacquer or other liquid or flowable coloring agent, translucent or opaque, may be introduced tothe interior of the bar through one end thereof, following the sealing or plugging of the other end, after which the bar may be rocked or tilted back and forth to insure an even or uniform distribution of the color upon the wall of the bore thereof, after which the surplus fluid may be withdrawn by pressure or by gravity flow from the end of introduction or preferably from the sealed or ing the seal; also that the process may be practiced without the use of the seal by flowing the coating liquid to and fro through the bar, by lrand .2

or by mechanical means, under pre-determmed control to insure auniform coating, or otherwise. The lacquer is then permitted to harden under natural or other atmospheric conditions, such as may be produced by the of cool or warm air currents through the bar, the result- :ant lacquer or surfacing :of color :being indicated at 8 in Figure 7 of the drawing.

t will-be noted that by internally applying the coloring material to the bar as :described, the 1m- 2;?

certainties as to the ultimate hue or coloring whichare inherent to all processes of manufacture involving the *use of pigments introduced in the molten glass compound are positively elim- .inated. Further, the maintenance 01' the uni- F7 formity of the coloring throughout the of the bar is insured, since the relatively high temperatures that are essential to the bending .or shaping-of the bar in its formation and which now result in the discoloration of the pigmentized glass bar in the zones of their :bends, :are applied, in my process, to the bar while it is in as transparentcondition and prior to the coloringstep.

In addition to making it possible to pro-determine or control the coloring of the glassw ith that degree of accuracy that is essential to standard- 'ized or mass production, my process provides a product which has a distinct appeal to the 'aesthetic sense, not only in simulating the :co'lonlngs of pi'gmentized glass, but in effecting new and novel color combinations that are a direct result thereof. Again, the application of the coloring material to the inside of the bar, protects it against wean-abrasionor other disfigurement, so that the potential period of durability of the coloring is many times greater than in those cases where the coloring isexternally applied. Also the'coat ing material when internally applied to the tube, as by my process, possesses substantially the-same coeilicient of eXpansiona-s the glass, so that the exposure of theco'lored tube to-more or less'rapid atmospheric changes, as frequently :occurs where a towel bar maybe located adjacenta hot'weter tap, does not result in the peeling or cracking of the coating, as commonly happens where an external color application is made. Dbv'iously, glass, which possesses relatively poor conductive characteristics will transmit heat to the internal coating material at a rate which will vnot impair its elastic limits, whereas'en external coating re- .Lui)

ceives the heat directly. with the aforementioned undesirable results. The same objectionable breakage and peeling of the coating also follows where the rate of expansion of the coating material differs appreciably from that of the glass, as in the use of metallic or metallized solutions, which, in some instances, are employed as coating agents, irrespective of the fact that the application may be made internally. Likewise, many adhesives or cementitious materials that are utilized to obtain color effects in the jointure of glass tubes and solid glass inserts, fail in the performance of their intended function and thereby defeat the objectives of the structures of which they are components, because of the unequal rates of expansion of the associated elements.

As shown in Figiu'es 1, 2, and 3, the bracket or mounting heretofore referred to comprises a disc 9 provided with an annular stepped up portion 10 which defines an orifice 11 of a diameter greater than that of one of the flared ends 7 of the towel bar. This disc, of course, may be formed of metal or any other suitable material and in any desired design, as a shield or with a fluted periphery as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and is provided with suitable apertures 12 to receive screws or other means for fastening said disc to the wall of a room or other fixed support in functioning position, as hereinafter described;

Formed for cooperation with the disc 9, I provide an annular collar 13 having a concentric stepped up portion 14;, the external diameter of which corresponds substantially to the internal diameter of the orifice 11 of the disc 9, while the inner circumference of said stepped up portion 14 of the disc 13 corresponds substantially to the outer circumference of the leg '7'" of the bar ad jacent the flared end 7 thereof,

As will be observed, especially by reference to Figure 1, the diameter of the collar 13 which is interrupted or split as at 15, is substantially the same as that of the receiving recess provided by the stepped formation 10 of the disc 9, the portion 14 of said collar being adapted to be centered within the orifice 11 for registration oi the abutting surfaces of the two components of the bracket, it being manifest that when these elements as shown are assembled in their bar-supporting position, the outer faces of the stepped up portions 10 of the disc 9 and 14 of the collar 13, will be flush, although, this of course, is not essential. If desired, the face of the surface 10 and that of the step 14, or either of them, may be embellished with decorative designs, as is also true of the disc 9.

In the application of the mounting of bracket to the bar end, the disc 9 is first passed thereover and on to the legs 7 whereupon the split collar may be distended or distorted to permit of the passage of its opening l l over the flared end '7 to embrace the leg surface adjacent thereto when it is permitted to return to its normal formation, the flared end being seated within the opening of major diameter in said collar, the thickness of the material of which the collar is formed being suiiicient to provide a recess of the requisite depth to receive the flared end or nipple, so that the portion defining the portion 14* will bear upon the outwardly projecting surface of the flare when the disc 9 is drawn down upon the collar to center its stepped up portion 14 within the orifice ll thereof. Likewise, the thickness of the material of the disc below its step 10 corresponds to the gauge of the material of the portion of the collar of major diameter, the mating walls of the registering members forming a flat wall-engaging surface, as will be clearly evident from l igure 1 of the drawing. i'hus, when the disc 11 is airlxed to the wall or other support, as by suitable screws or the like,-

not shown, the disc 11 will press the collar 13 into close association with the fiared'end 7 of the causing its surface, juxtaposition to the wall to abut thereagainst throughout its circumferential area, which, in conjunction with the' the bar and its moimting elements, although this is not essential to the practicing of invention. Also, in lieu of employing a split collar as shown, this element of the mounting may consist of two complemental parts, which when assembled on the leg 7*, will, obviously, be held in functioning position by the cooperating abutting surfaces of the disc 9.

From the foregoing, it will be manifest that I have provided a complete unit, by means of which the objectives to which this invention is directed may be readily attained in a most simple and economical manner.

I claim:

1. A bracket for mounting towel bars and other articles provided with end portions of enlarged diameter upon a suitable support, comprising a radially split annulus having concentric openings of different diameters, that of greater di ameter defining a socket adapted for the recepvided with a recess complemental to the portion of said annulus of major diameter, the portion of said annulus of minor diameter protruding therethrough for registration with a complemental surface of said plate-dike member, said platelike member being adapted for attachment to I said support to retain said bar or other article,

said annulus and said plate-like member in their aforesaid assembled functioning relation.

2. A means for securing a normally non-attachable element to a wall or other appropriate fiat supporting surface, comprising a member apertured to embrace a part of such element and provided with a recess having a diameter greater than that of said aperture to receive another part of said element, the surface of said member being interrupted for locating the same upon such element and a second member form d with a recess for the registering reception of the major diameter portion of said first described member, said element and a portion of said first described member extending beyond the surfaces of said second member defining its aforesaid recess in the direction of the major part of said element.

3. A means for rigidly securing a normally non attachable element to a wall or other fiat supporting siu'face, comprising a member apertured to embrace a part of such element and provided with a recess having a diameter greater than that of said aperture to receive another part of said element, the surface of said member being interrupted for locating the same upon such element, and a second member formed with a recess for the reception of the major diameter portion of said first described member, said element and a portion of said first described member extending "j i bevondthe surfaces of said second member defining its aforesaid recess in the direction ofthe major part .of said element, the second described member being adapted to be fixed to'such wall or other supporting surface and press said first described member and said element into engagement therewith.

4.. The combination with a glass towel bar having an offset end portion terminating in an outwardly disposed base-forming flange, of means for rigidly mounting said bar upon a fiat supporting surface, as a Wall, said means comprising a split annulus embodying relatively stepped surfaces forming a recess therein complemental to said base-forming flange, whereby the offset portion of said bar at said flange and said flange may be closely embraced by the cooperating surfaces of said annulus, and a securing member of a stepped formation adapted to be superimposed upon a complemental portion of said annulus; the associated base-forming flange, an-

ing flange, said annulus being locatable upon said offset portion of .thebar adjacent the base-forming-flange, and a securing member of a'stepped formation adapted to be superimposed upon a complemental portion of said annulus; the associated base-forming flange, annulus and securing \memberbeing pressedinto rigid engagement with such supporting surface by the attachment of .said. securing. member thereto.

HERMAN L. WI'I'TSTEIN. 

